Ordinary

Wait... What?

DeAnne

Awakening with so many eyes on you is more than a little uncomfortable.

Only my husband Roger and my youngest daughter Charlotte were missing from the congregation. But in their place were several new and unfamiliar acquaintances.

Draven still clung to Serenity as if she was actively trying to escape his hold. Kalix and Blake were leaned against the far wall close to a set of balcony windows I hadn't noticed before.

And the wolf man, whom I had yet to be introduced to was perched at the edge of my bed. Opposite side from me, looking very anxiously into my face.

I pushed myself up against the headboard, not in panic but to ease the discomfort of not being in complete control of my own body at the moment. I had never fainted before, not to mention twice in one day. I guess it was a testament to how overstimulated, overwhelmed I currently was.

I looked at each of them in turn. Ending on the stranger perched on the bed with me.

"Let me get this straight." I said, leveling Draven with my no nonsense mom stare. "This is your father. And you (Draven) are a werewolf."

"Very good mom," Blake clapped platinically. "She took that almost as well as Charlie did."

"Definitely better than dad will," Adam chimed in, in agreement.

I looked between my children. My brows furrowed. How many other secrets did they have between them that I wasn't aware of.

"Clint. Clinton Westly Bloodgood" the intense man at the foot of my bed explained, as if that would solve everything. "May I call you DeAnne?"

I blushed at the level of scrutiny I could calculate in his attention. For a moment I was mesmerized by his eyes, the salt and pepper cadence of his thick military-style haircut. And the subtle shadow of a beard that looked incredibly ticklish if he were to nuzzle my neck.

Shaking myself out of my daze, I focused on his chin, "Nice to meet you, Clint. Of course, you may call me DeAnne."

Draven chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Easy dad." As Kalix crossed his arms over his chest, a muscle in his jaw ticking in time with his heart beat.

"Can someone explain what's going on? In rational, reasonable terms that I can understand?" I say rubbing my temples with both hands. I'm having a nervous breakdown.

CLINT

Losing control of my wolf hadn't happened to me in well over a hundred years. It's just something that shouldn't happen to a former Alpha. When Shadow (my wolf spirit) had caught the scent of my mate. A second chance mate at that... there was no way he was going to be denied claiming her.

Second chance mates were rare. The goddess just wasn't in the habit of awarding them much anymore. And to have one that's human was even more unheard of.

I was perplexed because Serenity, Adam and Blake were half-breed hybrids... so someone, somewhere was lying. But judging by DeAnne's reactions, she had no idea that shifters were real, or that she'd given birth to four of them. Her husband had deceived her.

Shadow growled in my mind. 'WE will end him. He has taken what should have been ours,' he protested. 'Easy Shadow. If these pups were ours, Draven couldn't have his mate, right... and maybe not Kalix either.' I reminded my wolf of the complicated dynamics of our expanding family.

I watched her emotions play across her face. Her realization that her children had kept secrets from her. Her quick acceptance of the existence of creatures she was never aware of. Her hesitant, yet thorough appraisal of me.

"Clint. Clinton Wesley Bloodgood" I blurted out, eager to hear my name on her lips. I couldn't hold her yet. Hadn't touched her... I needed something. Shadow was constantly clawing at me trying to break free. He would mark and claim her immediately. And she wasn't ready for that. I had to give her time.

Her pupils dilated, she asked for an explanation. Onc she could understand. She appeared to be understanding everything just fine. Acceptance seemed to be the issue.

I would make her understand that her previous life was over. That she was mine.